Climb Wyoming honored nationally for helping women escape poverty

Climb Wyoming has received recognition as one of the country’s top ten programs helping to move people out of poverty. The honor came from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Administration for Children and Families, among other agencies.

The nonprofit Climb Wyoming helps struggling single mothers find work by providing job training, parenting advice and professional counseling.

Executive Director Ray Fleming Dinneen says the psychological and logistical support they offer is crucial, because many of the women have huge hurdles to overcome before they’re ready for steady jobs.

So far, Climb Wyoming has helped more than 1,300 women find steady work ranging from truck driving to healthcare. Dinneen says that benefits society as a whole. “The women move off of public assistance, and that’s a savings to the state,” she said. “We prevent incarceration. … And that is all a strong return on investment and makes a significant impact for the state.”